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Stainless Steel Apple Watch Starting Price - The Question thats really on our mind!

Apple Watch SS Starting Price.

  • $399

    Votes: 24 11.9%

  • $499

    Votes: 108 53.7%

  • $599

    Votes: 46 22.9%

  • $699 +

    Votes: 23 11.4%
  • Total voters
    201
I'm going to guess the SS will start at least double the Sport Watch.

I'd say $699 with a Sport Band.

Quickly going to over $1200 with the steel bands.
 
I'm also in the $499 camp. You have to realize the psychology behind the marketing. A $150 difference in price between the Sport and SS models allows for a super easy upsell for Apple. At "only" $150 more there will be a lot of people drawn to the nicer build quality and look of the SS. Remember, there's a logic behind this naming scheme. Despite the fact that the Sport model may likely sell more units (as base models tend to do), Apple wants the Stainless Steel version to appear as the "standard" and the other versions to be an upgrade or downgrade from that version. If they price the Stainless Steel version too high, that perception will falter.
 
DirtySocks85 said:
I'm also in the $499 camp. You have to realize the psychology behind the marketing. A $150 difference in price between the Sport and SS models allows for a super easy upsell for Apple. At "only" $150 more there will be a lot of people drawn to the nicer build quality and look of the SS. Remember, there's a logic behind this naming scheme. Despite the fact that the Sport model may likely sell more units (as base models tend to do), Apple wants the Stainless Steel version to appear as the "standard" and the other versions to be an upgrade or downgrade from that version. If they price the Stainless Steel version too high, that perception will falter.
Click to expand...

Exactly and don't forget the SS Watch will quickly rise in price with different bands. Giving more room to upsel then the Sport or Edition.
 
DirtySocks85 said:
I'm also in the $499 camp. You have to realize the psychology behind the marketing. A $150 difference in price between the Sport and SS models allows for a super easy upsell for Apple. At "only" $150 more there will be a lot of people drawn to the nicer build quality and look of the SS. Remember, there's a logic behind this naming scheme. Despite the fact that the Sport model may likely sell more units (as base models tend to do), Apple wants the Stainless Steel version to appear as the "standard" and the other versions to be an upgrade or downgrade from that version. If they price the Stainless Steel version too high, that perception will falter.
Click to expand...

What are your expectations on band pricing?

Specifically..... Sport, Leather loop and Milanese Loop.

I like your thinking on the prices so far!
 
Sodner said:
What are your expectations on band pricing?

Specifically..... Sport, Leather loop and Milanese Loop.

I like your thinking on the prices so far!
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that sport bands will be "cheap" - like under $49 cheap. They may even put the classic buckle leather strap in this price bracket as well to include a non-sport base option. I can see the leather loop being a bit more, but still under $79. I'm HOPING that the Milanese Loop and Link Bracelet options stay under $149, but I could see Apple reasonably asking as much as $299 for them. I don't think they will be as much as (or more than) the watch itself, which again, I'm thinking will be around $499.

I'm also a believer that the space black version will be the same price, but that may just be wishful thinking on my part.

If I can walk away with a 42mm Space Black SS w/ the matching link bracelet and a sport band for under $799 I'll be really happy. Not sure if I'm just dreaming though.
 
I believe there may be a large group of potential buyers that are outside of Apple's target market. People who may or may not be able to come up with the money required to buy an entry level Bare Bones Apple Watch.

These are the ones that price could be a deal breaker. I also envision some going into debt to satisfy their desires. A rather sad situation.
 
DirtySocks85 said:
I'm thinking that sport bands will be "cheap" - like under $49 cheap. They may even put the classic buckle leather strap in this price bracket as well to include a non-sport base option. I can see the leather loop being a bit more, but still under $79. I'm HOPING that the Milanese Loop and Link Bracelet options stay under $149, but I could see Apple reasonably asking as much as $299 for them. I don't think they will be as much as (or more than) the watch itself, which again, I'm thinking will be around $499.

I'm also a believer that the space black version will be the same price, but that may just be wishful thinking on my part.

If I can walk away with a 42mm Space Black SS w/ the matching link bracelet and a sport band for under $799 I'll be really happy. Not sure if I'm just dreaming though.
Click to expand...

Thats why i don't think the link bracelet alone would be more then $199, thats $299 thats almost as much as a whole Apple Watch Sport

----------

AVAILABLE STRAPS FOR "APPLE WATCH"

Sport Fluoroelastomer Strap Blue/Pink/Green/White/Black $29
Classic Leather Buckle - $79
Milanese Loop - $99
Leather Loop - $119 *only available for 42mm
Modern Leather Buckle - $119 *only available for 38mm
Stainless Steel Link - $149
Stainless Steel Black Link - $199
 
FrankySavvy said:
There is much debate about pricing, tiers, prices of bands.

But I think most of us want to know how much for the Apple Watch SS model?

We all know what the Sport starts at, and we have our wallets ready come launch day, but some of us don't want to settle. We want the Sapphire Glass and Stainless Steel shinny that Apple has bestowed upon us.

So what will the starting price be? How much more can a stainless steel case and Sapphire glass cost?

My bet is on $499 for the base model. What is yours?
Click to expand...

I'm going with $449.99
 
jabingla2810 said:
I'm going to guess the SS will start at least double the Sport Watch.

I'd say $699 with a Sport Band.

Quickly going to over $1200 with the steel bands.
Click to expand...


So you think the steel bands themselves will be more than $500?! Almost as much money as the whole SS watch with a sport band?
 
Seannyb said:
[/B]

So you think the steel bands themselves will be more than $500?! Almost as much money as the whole SS watch with a sport band?
Click to expand...

the links in a steel band are not cheap. Every link in my Omega band is $90.00 But then again it's an Omega watch not an Apple watch.
 
Armen said:
the links in a steel band are not cheap. Every link in my Omega band is $90.00 But then again it's an Omega watch not an Apple watch.
Click to expand...

There you have it. I really hope (and think) that Apple is not going to price their SS model and bands similar to Omega.
 
Last Call Sunday :)

Still thinking $499 starting price for SS Apple Watch.

There will be a huge range in pricing, $499-$799 depending on size and band.
Thinking Apple ordered least to most expensive on their site for the SS.

Probably like this:

Sport Band $499-$549
Leather Buckle $579-$629
Milanese Loop $599-$649
Modern Buckle $629 **38mm Only
Leather Loop $679 **42mm Only
SS Link $699-$749
Black SS Link $749-$799* Might be same as regular SS Link but some on the forum thinking more.

Bands sold separately:

Sport Band $39
Leather Buckle $79
Milanese Loop $99
Modern Buckle $119
Leather Loop $129
SS Link $199
Black SS Link $249

Apple Watch Sport will be simple
$349 - 38mm
$399 - 42mm

Apple Watch Edition starts at $1999 - $2999 depending on size and band. Thinking 38mm with Gold Modern Buckle will be most expensive, followed closely by the 42mm with Leather Buckle.
 
KauaiBruce said:
I truly think the smart money is on $499 for the 42mm SS with sports band. I would expect that a much higher percentage of men (who would want the larger size) are drawn to smart watches versus women and that if they can afford it most are going to desire the SS. It does seem that the SS is what people prefer but many of us will settle on the sport if Apple gets crazy on the pricing.

The big money is in accessories. With a decent base price on the SS then many of us will by at least one dressy version and possibly 2 or 3. I want the sport band for the gym where I will shower with it. Either link or loop for dressy, and possibly a leather to switch it up.

I do not see myself buying ANY extra bands if I get the base sport version in Black. Most of them will look like crap next to aluminum.
Click to expand...

I think this is absolutely right. I'm fine with the black Sport. I'd like the SS with leather loop but if it's more than double the cost I can easily live without it. All models are (I assume) the same watch (unlike, say, the MacBooks). So there's a limit on the premium I'm willing to pay for prettiness.

And although the SS is "better" the Sport is lighter which would make me feel happier about "only" having the Sport.

I wonder if Apple spent as long agonising about pricing as we are :D
 
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DirtySocks85 said:
I'm also in the $499 camp. You have to realize the psychology behind the marketing. A $150 difference in price between the Sport and SS models allows for a super easy upsell for Apple. At "only" $150 more there will be a lot of people drawn to the nicer build quality and look of the SS. Remember, there's a logic behind this naming scheme. Despite the fact that the Sport model may likely sell more units (as base models tend to do), Apple wants the Stainless Steel version to appear as the "standard" and the other versions to be an upgrade or downgrade from that version. If they price the Stainless Steel version too high, that perception will falter.
Click to expand...

Good points. Also, IMO I don't think they are going to go as steep as many people are predicting seeing they are going to want people to upgrade. They don't want to sell you one iphone, ipad, mac, watch ect and be done. They want people to buy the next generation release too. If they push the SS into the mid to high thousands and the gold into the 5-10 grand range who can afford to keep coming back every couple years for a new one
 
technosix said:
I believe there may be a large group of potential buyers that are outside of Apple's target market. People who may or may not be able to come up with the money required to buy an entry level Bare Bones Apple Watch.

These are the ones that price could be a deal breaker. I also envision some going into debt to satisfy their desires. A rather sad situation.
Click to expand...

If you don't have the money for a bare bones watch ($349), then most likely you don't have the money for an iPhone, which even second hand go for more than that for a 5s or newer. Since you need an iPhone to use the watch, I don't see the $349 starting price as being a huge issue.

However I do think that the problem will come when the accessory you're buying is more than the phone itself. If Apple set these prices too high (which is eminently possible), I think there could be a large public backlash. Of course, it probably won't stop people buying them, but if people have got in their heads they can get a Milanese loop for $600 and then it's $1,200, they could have a problem.
 
profmatt said:
I guess not even he could afford the link strap. Or the Edition.

;)
Click to expand...

Haha.

Though that does appear to be the 'flagship model' that they are selling as the standard one. I think that's the one we'll see in marketing materials the most. Also, the Apple Watch App icon had that watch on it.
 
Gav2k said:
Sport - 349/379
Stainless - 449/479
Gold - 999/1049
Click to expand...
Close.

Sport - 349/379
Stainless - 499/529
Gold - 1499/1599

Keep in mind that, thanks to the ceramic mix, the Apple Watch Edition will incorporate $400-600 in gold, not the $1000+ in gold previously predicted.

The actual electronics in each watch should cost $80-100.
 
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